The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-09-14

counters with which Sir William was
playing a political game. ICheers.l
The government did not waver in their
policy. They believed in firm admins
tration of the law and determination to do
their utmost to remove the evils which
formenting dlscontent would bring to
Ireland united people. They knew they
must expect little assistance from the OPP
position, but undismayed by criticism and
with courage unshaken, they would psr.
severe in q course that must aud in the
conciliation of Ireland. Loud cheers.l
LAIoUcHERE SPEAKS.
Mr. Labouchere said that he had been in
a position to zee all that occurred at
Mitchellstown. Stringent orders were
gwen to the people by the leaders to avoid
disturbance. When they assembled in the
market place Mr.. Dillon advised that the
proceedings be as short as possible, with a
view of avoiding disorder. There was no
objection to the presence Of the govern
ment reporter, but the police could not
force him through the densely packed
crowd, and they were driven
back upon the reserve. They
then advanced to assault the
constable drawing his sword and wound
ing horse. There were not at any mo-
ment more than fifty people fighting the
police. There were women and children
in the crowd, and the men had perfect
right to resist the attack. When the police
fired there was no danger of any of them
being attacked, either inside or outside
the barracks. The police behaved like wild
beasts, battering the people about without
mercy. The chief constable showed a de.
llberate intention to break up the meeting.
He held the chief constable and the resi-
dent magistrate responsible for what had
occurred, and he accused them of deliberate
murder. Cheers,
GLADsroNE's SPEECH.
Mr.. Gladstone upon rising was loudly
cheered. He said 1t was natural that the
debate should be mainly directed to the
Michellstown outrage, but Sir William
service in drawing attention to the Ennis
meeting. Mr.. Balfour had declared that
the government would persevere in their
endeavor to tranquilize Ireland by the firm
administration of law and by the removal,
not of grievances-there were none.
Laughter.
Mr.. Baliour here interposed. "Injus-
tice" was my word Mr.. Gladstone said
he was mucn obliged. lie saw no differ
ence, but il was best TO be verbally correct.
Resumlpg, Mr.. Gladstone protested
against Mr.. Balfour's statement that he
expected only Hostility from the opposition.
Whenever anything beneficial to Ireland
was proposed the opposition hailed it with
pleasure, and did everything possible to
further it, despite the unwise pelicy of
coercion, which wss calculated to destroy
social order. The opposition had enjoined
upon the Irish people strict obedience to the
law, and their advice was more effective
in procuring obedience than all the gov
ernment's coercion and constabulary,
managed as it was at Mitchellstown. Mr..
Balfour had met Sir VIM. Vernon Har-
courts speech with a simple Tu Quoque,
which was usually the resort of persons in
a difficult position, but which legally
meant nothing.
What signifed it for the purpose in view
il the late Government did the same thing?
He was not prepared to admit that, but If
they did it was with no excuse. The Gov
eminent on being charged with infringing
the law, say that those who make the
charges are also culpable under the law.
Mr.. Balfour had enunciated that all Liberal
meetings might be suppressed on the
grounds that they were called for improper
purposes. The Government had not even
attempted to show that they had acted in
conformity with the highest legal
authority. With regard to the Mitchells-
town affair, which at once moved and
narrowed the feelings of the country, Mr..
Balfour's conduct seemed marked by
singular rsshness and impudence. 1t
was competent for him under such grave
circumstances to decline to enter into any
discussion till an equally grave inquiry
had been held. But instead of that he
rushed headlong to the conclusion that
all the police had done was right,
that if they had acted otherwise they
would have been guilty of great neglect of
duty.
MR. BALFoUR's POLICY.
So long as Mr.. Balfour remained in his
present Office hey might rely upon it that
the same course would be pursued. Mr..
Balfour had done all in his power to bias
the case, and had driven the opposition to
state how the facts appeared to them. He
| reserved his Judgment but he considered
| that Mr.. Balfour's assertions were right in
| the teeth of the facts. From the fact that
the Government failed.to bring their re-
| porter, as was their duty, to the Mitchells-
| town meeting in the way most convenient
| to all concerned, he could only suppose
| two explanations, first, an intention to
promote disorder PaInellite cheersl ,
which he did not entertain; second, that
| pidity and negligence such as Is rarely
seen. The responsibility rested with
those who committed the first error and it
was gross, dangerous error for body OF
police to force their way through dense
| crowd.
There was no proof of any attempt to
storm the barracks. On the other hand
| the victims were two old men and boy.
Mr.. Gladstone hoped to hear before the
debate closed that this sad and grievous af.
fair, which had created asentiment of hor-
ror and disgust throughout the kingdom,
had not been kept in the dark but had been
| probed to the bottom. [Cheersl.
He wished he could see either frmness
| or conciiation on the part of the Govern
ment. He feared all that was occurring in
| Ireland tended to support the contention
| of the opposition that the Governments
legislation was directed not against crime,
but against combination for liberty oil
speech and public meeting. He was con-
vinced that the people Of England would
not follow ihe Governments course, which
could lead to nothing but distress and dis.
aster. [Cheers.1 Mr.. Parnell's motion to
adjourn the debate was defeated by a vote
Of 228 to 81.
The AttorneyrGeneral reprosched Mr..
! Gladstone, who, while protesting to reserve
! his Judgment, had very readily come to
the conclusion that the police were mur.
derers for baving defended the govern
ment in their action at the Ennis meeting.
The Prison Congress.
TORONTO, September 12.-The National
Prison Congress began its regular bust
ness meeting this morning in the theatre
of the Normal School. There was a large
attendance of delegates and of the general